Die-press mechanism



Mar; 20, 1923.

c. D. McDONALD ET AL.

DlE PRESS MECHANISM.

3 SHEETS SHEET l.

HLED FEB.6.1922.

O [laden/dafi' t' &dlm/mid Mar. 24'), 13.323, 1,448,807. C. D. MCDONALD ET AL.

DIE PRESS MECHANISM.

HLED FEB. 6. 1922. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

66/ the 577% Mar. 20, 1923.

C. D. MCDONALD ET AL.

DIE PRESS MECHANISM.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

FILED FEB. 5. i922.

g3\ & a a Rm.. w N am m &N

Patented Mar. 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ID. MCDONALD AND JOHN E. MGCULLOUGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 MODONALD MACHINE C0., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DIE-PRESS MECI-IANISM.

Application filed February 43,1922. Serial No. 534,387.

T o all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES D. MGDoN- ALI) and JOHN E. MCCULLoUoH, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, Cook County, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Die-Press Mechanism, of which the following is declared to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to die press mechanism, and more particularly to the mechanism of multiple die or punch presses, which has to do with the feeding of the strips, sheets of metal or other work to the dies of the press. For the sake of economy of ma: terial and economy in time, die presses, of the automatic type especially, are equipped with two or more sets of dies, whereby two or more punchings or stampings may be made during each stroke of the press. A comparatively long strip of material is usually employed and heretofore considerable time has been lost because it was found neccessary to run the press idle at the time a strip \vas being laced over a die after a pre ceding strip hacFbeen operated on.

It will be understood that, for the purpose of economy of material, especially when punching out circular or oval pieces, ex

tremely narrow Spaces are left between the punched out pieces, and usually the punched pieces of one row are arranged midway between those of another row. As a consequenceand` further, because the dies mustbe spaced far enough apart to give body to the female dies, it was found necessary when making the last punch in a strip, for one or more of the dies to remain idle during this stroke of the press, and when making the first punch in a succeeding strip, for one or more of the dies to remain idle at this tiine also. As a result, thereiwas a loss of time and useless wear and tear on the press.

In accordance with the present invention, each stroke of the press is utilized to mako two or more punches. one strip being fed to the dies before a preceding strip is completely punched out, and in such timcd relation that the last punch in the outgoing strip is made siinultaneously with the first punch in the incoming strip. This we have accomplished by speeding up the strip feeding mechanism. and by providing novel means for enabling the incoming strip to he fed to the dies without interference by the outgoing strip. To enable all of the dies to operate when acting simultaneously on two strips, it is necessary for the incoming strip to slightly overlap the outgoing one and one of the principal ditliculties encountered was the provision of guiding means which would function properly, irrespective of any irregularities or buckled or bent end portions of either strip.

The invention consists in a multiple die press mechanism, wherein the last and first punchcs on an outgoing strip, and an incoming, strip may be made simultaneously, \vhereby all of the dies may be utilized during each stroke of the press. It further consists in the provision of novel strip spacing means arranged to separate an incoming strip from an outgoing one during the interval that an incoming strip is carried to overlap an outgoing one. It further consists in the several novel features hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

`The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a die press mechanism equipped with one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical, longitudinal section through the strip feeding mechanism; Fig. 3 is a plan of two stri ps and two female dies of a press mech anism, showing the strips in the position occupied when about to be acted on by the duplex dies; Fig. 4 is a plan of fragments of said strips, and the female dies showing the strips in position just before they are fed to the position shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section taken 'on line 5-5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a plan of a fragment of the feed table, dies and discharge chute, and two strips, with the invention applied thereto; Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the parts seen in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a strip feed fingerequipped with a guard forming part of the invention; and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of .another guard member for spacing the strips apart at the place where one overlaps the other.

Referring to said drawings, which illustrate a simple embodiment of the present invention, the reference character 10 designates. generally. an automatic die press mechanism. which is here shown in skeleton or fragiuentary form. The construction of the press mechanism chosen to illustrate this invention is more fully shown and described in a prior Patent X0. 1.121.2TL issued to (3, I). McDonald and li. Ennes dated l ecenihcl' 1:.. 1914 to which reference is herein made. ln the press shown herein and also in said patent there is a rcciprocatiug press heath indicated by ll in the drawings. accompanying the present specification. which head carries two tnale dies 1.3, 15. that cti-operate with two female dies lo lt'c mounted on the hed or hase plate 12 of the press frame 13. At one. side of the dies is a feed table 14 upon which is placed a hun lle or stack of strips or other work. which is to he pnnched or hlanked out ir\' the press and co-operutin; with said dies is strip in setting inechanisun u,. h, which operates to take one strip at a tiinc (from said liu'idle of sti ips) and place it in a fcedway. in position to he fod in a step hy step manner to the dies hy the strip feeding mechanism.

.\s in the prior patent referred to, the strip feeding' mechanism mavcoluprise a rcciprocahle feed ha' 18. guided to move in a suitable gnideway t8*** ot' the feed table, and operated from the driving mechanism c of the press hy a connecting rod 26, a hell crank lever connected to its lower end and fulcrnined on the press frame i3, and a link connection 2& which is Secured to one arin of the heil (rank lever 25 and to an ear or Ing 41 of the feed har mechanism. The car or lng 41 is secured upon a threaded stciu LT which is secured to and projects from the feed har 18.

The feed har IR contains a plurality of spaced fingers 21 2& :28 which are pivotally mounted on hlocks 43 secured to the feed har 1 and arranged along its length in spaced relation to each other. Their effective ends or tips project into a slot (I in the feed tahle and snccessively engage with the strips or other work to feed it in a Step hy step manner to the dies. The fingers are spring: pressed into the slot (I by springs onfined hetween the lower end portions of thc fingers and the hlocks 4?). As in the picss of the prior patent referred to the tinucr *JT (which first engages the strip and which nnty he termed the initial feed finger) has a greater range of movement than thc other fingers EH Qi. in order to hring the strip-over the die lti. which makes the first impression on a strip. The means for effectiug this additional length of stroke of the finger 1f7 may comprise a lever i5 connected to the finger actuating lilocl( :lil of the iinucr ::T h a lini( ;34. arah an operating lini\' h' secured to and cxtendin r hctwcen the car or hrg rl and lever 235. The lever :iii fuh-ruined on a hracket :to secured to the press frame. and the link l t! is connected tu the leicr :i7: lictwcen its fuh-rum and point of wmncction with the link ill.

li is perfe tly apparent fron: the ahoro that in the operation of the press mechan sm described, strips or sheets of material are fed to the dies in a step by step manner` and are acted n hy the dies *ach time the strip is fed forward one step. Un each stroke of the 'ccd har. the strip is fed forward a distaucc slightly greater than the size of the piece punchcd out of it so as to leave a thin weh hctwccn resulting holesu 'l`hc dies aI'c placed along: a diagzonal line and the location of the dies is calculated so as to hring the pnnched holes of one row intermediate those of the other row. ln the o 'ieration of the press descrihed the first punch made is the one indicated hy the reference character c and this punch is made hy the dies 15. lo. When the strip is fed forward onc stcp it hrings the strip over hoth dics 111. ,15. at thc position shown in Fig. 3. ln this position hoth dies l, 15** ih. lti. act on the strip and punch the metal out at the places lettcrcd 7". The places lcttered (1 ;jh are the last douhle punchcs made in the strip. and the one lettcred la` is the last single punch made in it, The press mechanism hrielt\' dcscrihed ahorc is more fully illustrated and descrihcd in the prior patent ahovc referred to. The present invention is illustrated in connection with the press discloscd in said patent. hecanse it is one of a type of prcsseswhich is well adapted for use in connection with the prescnt invention. It is not our intention to limit ourselves to the use of the present invention to the press descrihed. as it, is perfectly ohvious that it is capahle of use in connection with other forms of automatic die press mechanism using: a step hy step feed meehanism for feeding: the strips or other work to the dies.

e shall now proceed to describe in detail the cinhodiment of the present invention which is ilhistrated in connection with the press ahove set forth.

The finger E of the feed mechanism is the ore which is the last one of the series of fingers that cngages the strip or other work in feeding: it to the dies. \Vhen this finger EH does its work all of the pnnches haru licen made in an outgoing' strip. except the last one at /I. and this position of the outgoing strip is seen in Fi:. 3. The strip inserting mechanism u la of the press at this time is put into operation and a strip is taken from the hundle or stacl\' and inscrtcd into the feed slot (7 in position to inc engaged hv the initial feed finger 27 (whi h is then in the position seen in Fi ll a fragnicnt of the strip hein;` illustratcd in l ig. l. in approximately the position it occupics aftcr the las douhle punchings haru hccn made in the outgoing' strip B. and licforc hoth incoming alid outgoin strips are fed forward.

livft'i'l'iilf, tu said Fit!, i il is nlwiillh that Hti Hti

if the incoming strip is moved over the female die 1G while any part of the outgoing strip is still over said die, the work is liable to become jammed because the two strips are normally guided to lie in the same plane and the forward edge of the incoming strip would strike the rear edge of the outgoing strip, particularly if either were slightly buckled out of its plane or either corner were bent ever so slightly. The result would cause further buckling or bending of the strip& jamming of the work in the press proper and feedway, with the loss of a strip of material, and the necessity of stopping the press until a skilled attendant could extricate the damaged strips and start the press. Moreover. in such cases, there would always be the danger of serious injury to the press itself. We have made it possible to feed the incoming strip over the end portion of the outgoing strip without any possibility of the work jamming at this place` by providing guide or guard members on the last feed finger 28 and on some stationary part of the press` which guide or guard members space one strip from the other at the time the forward end of the incoming strip passes over the rear end of the outgoing strip.

Referring now to F igs, 6 and 8. the last finger 28 while constructed in the main part like the other or intermediate fingers :28. and while connected to the feed bar in the same manner. is provided with a guard 28' which overhangs its effective` end or' tip L8 and projects later-ally tlhereof to one side in the form of a thin wez), which is somewhat wider at the place where it joins with the body of the finger than at its extreme end, which leaves a diagonally extending edge portion 28**. The guard 28' overlies the rear edge of the outgoing strip (when said finger 28** feeds it forward) and covers any upturned rear edgc portions of the outgoing sheet. Moreoven an incoming strip in passing over said guard will freely pass the guard because there is no possibility of any ragged edge portion of the incoming strip catching on the diagonal edge 28 Moreover. the guard 28*' raises the forward edge of the incoming strip a distance equal'to or slightly more than the thickness of the guard 128 thus insuring its passage (at least at that place) over the rear edge of the outgoing strip.

At the opposite side of the feedway for the strip is a. guard QSL (see Figs. 5, T. and 1).) which is secured to the discharge end of the feed table 14. Said guard 29 has a weblike portion 29**. one end of which is located slightly below the normal plane of travel of the strip and the other end of which is located above the normal plane of travel of the strip. lt is set in the normal path ol' travel of thc incoming strip so that the latter on passing said web portion 29** of the guard is defiected upwardly thereby insuring its free movement over the 'rear cnd of the outgoing strip. The web 29 is preferably made of resilient material, whereby it may yield downwardly under the influence of great force. such for instance as is oceasioned by the male die 1.3. Referring now to Fig. 9, the lower end of the web portion E29 is secured to the underside of a laterally movable guard member supporting block 29 which is slidably mounted on a supporting bracket 29", and spring pressed toward the strip or other work by a coiled spring 29 (see Fig. 5) interposed between the block ?9 and bracket 29' A pin and socket connection E29* between the block and bracket 29 limits the movement of the block 29. The bracket ?9 is adjustably supported on the feed table by bolts 29 that extend through a slot in the tail 29 of the bracket and are threaded in the feed table, and if desired. said bracket 25f may be made of two pieces 29 29*, to provide for a. limited amount of adj ustment of the part 29 of thebracket in a line running parallel with t-he work. These two parts 29'*. 29 of the bracket are secured together by a bolt or otherwise. as desired. A guide groove 29 is formed in the front or strip engaging face of the block 29, in linc with the feed slot. whereby the side edge of the strip will be guided. after it leaves the feed slot. by said block ?9 to the guard member 29% The guard member :29 extends part way past the female die 16 and operates to raise the adjacent edge portion of the incoming strip above the rear edge of the outgoing strip. The guard terminates at a point where the rear edge of the outgoing strip may drop from the guard before the forward elevated end reaches the outgoing strip. The edges at the ends of an outgoing strip and an incom- 'ing strip are thereby spaced away from each other at the place where one passes the other. which leaves the incoming strip free to move forward over the die 16.

A strip holding finger 30 is pivotally supported on the feed table. between ears 30", and is spring pressed in a downward direction by a spring 30 confined between the top of the finger 30 and a nut 30 on a post 30 Said strip holding finger 30 extends forward between the dies and terminates at a point to one side of the die 1G, where it bears upon the strip and holds it down against the die.

In the operation of the press mechanism. the feed bar 18 is reciprocated once for each stroke of the press head` and in timed relation thereto, The strip inserting mechanism a. 7a is timed to insert a strip into the fecd slot in time to be acted on by the initial feed finger 27 simultancously with titi! the aetion of the last finger 'l on an outgoing strip. This position of the strips is *een in Fig. l. and the forward movement of the feed har brings the two strips into the position seen in l'igt ii where the last poni-h ol' the oiltgoiiltf strip is done. and hnnltaneoustv therewith the first puneh on the ineonin g strip is done. in passing to this position. the rear end of the outgoing strip is held under the guard of the finger M thereby perinitting the 'front end of the ineoniiug strip to freely pass over said rear end of the strip. and the other side edge portion of the ineoming strip is raised the guard member 125W as it passes over the rear edge portion of the outgoing strip. the possibility of eollision between the two `:trip:` is thereby eliminated and no loss of !nne is oeeasioned in the worl( of the press, as'h stroke of the dies being utilized at the ends of the strips as well as at all other plaees between the ends.

\Yhile the invention has been shown and desrrihed in eonneetion with duplex die press merhanism. it is to be observed that tao or more sets of dies may be used for punehing along two or more rows. It is also to lit' understood that the strip feed meehauisin illustrated and deserihed is iminaterial to the invention. as any suitable strip feed meehanism mav be substituted for the present one.

More or less variation of the exact details of mnstrnetion is possible without departing from the .spirit of this invention` we desire therefore. not to limit ourselves to the ex- :aet form of the eonstruetion shown and deerihed. hut intend. in the following elaims` tei point out all of the invention diselosed herein.

\Ve elaim as new and desir= to secure by Letters Patent:

t. In multiple die press meehanism, the eombination with multiple die mechanism, of strip feeding merhanism having means for simultaneously feeding two strips to the dies. one strip following the other but at greater speed. wherein' the latter strip overiaps the preeeding strip between the dies, thereby permitting the dies to simultanenasi art on the end portions of both strips.

2. in inultiplt die press meehanism. the combination with multiple die mechanism, of strip feeding nieehanisnh arranged to feed strips of material to the dies. in a ,step hy step manner. with the front ends of the sii eeetiing strips overlapping the rea r ends of the preemling ones at the dies avhereby the dies mav sinniltaneonsly aet on the end portions of hoth strips, and a guide for spaeing apart the said end portions of the strips` at the plare where thi-v overlap.

ln multiple dh press nieehanisio. the om rination uith multiple die ineehanisni.

t' triy feeding: na 'hanisin. arranged to feed ar 'strip to the dies of said die merhanisin. in a step hy step manneiz said strip feeding meehanism having an initial feed finger and a last feed finger. eapable of sinnlltaneoustv ferding forward two strips. the stroke of the initial feed finger being greater than that ol' the last feed finger, wherein' the front end of one strip is earried over the rear end of the other strip and a guard for spaeiug apart the said end portions of the strips, at the place where the one passes the other.

4. In multiple die press met-hanism` the eombination with a guideway for the strips to be operated on and multiple die met-hanisin, emhraeing spaeed dies of strip feeding meehanism a ranged to feed a strip along said guideway to said dies in a. step by Step manner said strip feeding mechanism having an initial feed finger and a last feed finger capable of simultaneously feeding two strips to said dies. the stroke of the initial feed finger being longer than that of the last feed finger whereby the rear end of one strip is earried over one of said dies and simultaneously the 'forward end of the other strip is carried over the other die and over said rear end of the first mentioned strip and a guard for spaeing apart said end portions of the strips at the plaee where the one passes over the other.

5. In multiple die press mechanism. the eomhination with a guideway for the strips to be operated on and multiple die merhanisIn embracing two or more spaeed dies. of strip feeding meehanisn'i arranged to feed ar strip along said guidewav to said dies in a step by step manner, said strip feeding mechanism having an initial feed finger and a last; feed finger capable of simultaneously feeding two strips to Said dies the stroke of the initial feed finger being longer than that of the last feed finger wherehy the rear end of one strip is earried over one of, said dies and. simultaneously the forward end of the otherstrip is carried over the other die and over said rear end of the first men tioned strip and a guard on said last feed finger arranged to overlie the adjacent end portion of a strip When said finger is engaged therewith. said guard aeting to space an oneoming strip from the strip engaged by said last feed finge (3. In multiple die press mechanism. the combination with a guidewav for the strips to be operated on and multiple die meehanism embraeing two or more spaeed dies of strip feeding iiieehanism arranged to feed a. strip along said guidewav to said dies in a step by step manner. said strip feeding meehanisin having an initial feed finger and a last feed finger rap-able of simuitaneouslv feeding two strips to said dies\ the stroke of the initial feed finger heing longer than that of the last feed finger. wherein' the rear end of one strip is carried over one of said dies and simultaneously the forward end of the other strip is carried over the other die and over said rear end of the first mentioned strip. and a guard formed on said last feed finger, arranged to overlie the adjacent end portion of a strip when said finger engages therewith. said guard having a diagonally extending rear edge substantially as and for the purpose specified.

T. In multiple die press mechanism the combination with a guidewav for the strips to he operated ou and multiple die'mechanism embracing two or more spaced dies` of strip feeding mechanism arranged to feed a strip along said guideway to said dies in a step by step mannen said strip feeding mechanism having an initial feed finger and a last feed finger capable of simultaneouslv feeding two strips to said dies, the stroke of the initial feed finger being longer than that of the last feed finger, whereby the rear end of one strip is carried over one of said dies and simultaneously the forward end of the other strip is carried over the other die and over said rear end of the first mentioned strip. and a guard having an inclined part lying in the path of movement of a strip at the place where one strip passes over the other.

8. In multiple die press mechanism, the combination with a guideway for the strips to be operated on and multiple die mechanism, embracing two or more spaced dies, of strip feeding mechanism arranged to feed a strip along said guideway to said dies in a step by step manner, said strip feeding mechanism having an initial feed finger and a lastieed finger capable of simultaneonsly feeding two strips to said dies, the stroke of the initial feed finger being longer than that of the last feed finger, \vhereby the rear end of one strip is carried over one of said dies and simultaneously the forward end of the other strip is carried over the other die and over said rear end of the first mentioned strip, and a spring pressed laterally movable block and an inehned resilient guard member secured to said block and lying in the path of movement *of a strip at the place where one strip passes over the other.

9. In multiple die press mechanism. a last feed finger formed with a laterally projecting web like guard adapted to overlie a corner portion of a strip engaged by said finger.

10. In multiple die press mechanism having a straight guideway, a guard for spacing apart overlapped strips adjacent said guideway, comprising an inclined flexible guard member at the end of said guideway over which the work passes and by which it is deflected slightly out of its normal course when emerging from said guideway.

11. In multiple die press mechanism, a guard for spacing apart overlapped strips, comprising a spring pressed laterally movable block, and an inclined, resilient guard member secured thereto.

12. In multiple die press mechanism a. guard for spacing apart overlapped strips, comprising a spring pressed laterally movable block. formed with a guide groove in its face. and an inclined, resilient guard member secured thereto below said guide groove.

CHARLES D. MCDONALD. JOHN E. MOCULLOUGH. 

